Pak. J. (2009), ‘ Review Kohl (Surma): Retrospect and Prospect’, Pharmaeutical Sciences 22, 107-122.

The English word alcohol is a loan of the Arabic word (via Middle Latin and French; originally in the sense "powder of antimony", the modern meaning is from the 18th century). Berber and Semitic-speaking women in North Africa and the Middle East, respectively, also apply kohl to their faces. A vertical line is drawn from the bottom lip to the chin and along the bridge of the nose. Originally the line from the bottom lip to the chin showed whether a woman was married or not. This form of using kohl on the face originated from the Arabian Peninsula, and was introduced in the seventh century in North Africa. [15]Though there are new innovations cropping up all the time, the most common types of eyeliners you’ll find on beauty shelves today are pencil, gel and liquid formulas. Kohl has been a popular cosmetic in civilisations across the world since prehistoric times, but its association with ancient Egypt is most well-known. We are all familiar with the Egyptians legendary eye-makeup. With Cleopatra as its ‘poster girl’, most famously depicted by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963, the queens signature eye-paint still inspires costumes and makeup looks today. Though the Greeks and Romans also used kohl as an eye-liner, its use in Egypt was much more than simply cosmetic. Used by both men and women of all social classes, the Egyptians believed kohl also had important medicinal, magical and religious qualities. Cosmetic Use

a b Nasidi, A., Karwowski, M.P., Woolf, A.D., Kellogg, M.D., Law, T.C., Sucosky, M.S., Glass-Pue, R.M., Brown, M.J., & Behbod, B. (2012). "Infant lead poisoning associated with use of tiro, an eye cosmetic from Nigeria--Boston, Massachusetts, 2011". MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 61 30, 574-6 . Padmanabhan, Geeta (2010-12-14). "Eye-catching!". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-12-05.a b c d Hardy AD, Vaishnav R, Al-Kharusi SS, Sutherland HH, Worthing MA (April 1998). "Composition of eye cosmetics (kohls) used in Oman". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 60 (3): 223–34. doi: 10.1016/S0378-8741(97)00156-6. PMID 9613836. Rahbar MH, White F, Agboatwalla M, Hozhbari S, Luby S (2002). "Factors associated with elevated blood lead concentrations in children in Karachi, Pakistan". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 80 (10): 769–775. PMC 2567650. PMID 12471396. Kohl has been worn traditionally since the Naqada III era (c. 3100 BCE) by Egyptians of all social classes, originally as protection against eye ailments. [4] [5] There was also a belief that darkening around the eyes would protect one from the harsh rays of the sun. [6] Ancient Egyptian women wearing kohl, from a tomb mural in Thebes (1420–1375 BCE) Kreston, Rebecca (April 20, 2012). "Ophthalmology of the Pharaohs: Antimicrobial Kohl Eyeliner in Ancient Egypt". Body Horrors. Discover.